The steps taken to make a difference by 15 Dream Defenders were the same steps that led them to jail.
A week ago in Boca Raton, 120 to 140 students and Dream Defenders of Florida A&M, Florida State University, the University of Miami, Miami Dade College and the University of Florida protested an issue they felt had been ignored throughout the campaign.
During the presidential debate, the students gathered at nearby Lynn University in an effort to create awareness of the criminalization of young black and brown children, preventing the furthering of their education.
“Education not incarceration” was chanted and illustrated across banners, as well as “scholarships not handcuffs” and “drop books not bombs.”
Melanie Andrade is a Dream Defender and second-year English student at FAMU.
“We wanted to shed light on the school-to-prison pipeline and the fact that the country spends more on prisons than educating students,” Andrade said. “It’s like the country is turning the justice system into a business.”
Singing “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until its won,” nine women and six men sat down in the middle of the intersection of Yamato Road and Military Trail, attempting to stage a roadblock as part of their protest. The 15 protesters were instructed by the police to remove themselves but refused. They were arrested on civil disobedience, trespassing with warning and unlawful assembly.
“I mentally prepared myself and, therefore, wasn’t afraid of going to jail,” Andrade said. “I was honestly so calm in the situation. The police on their megaphones and the sounds of sirens and helicopters became background noise.”
The protest was a part of the Dream Defenders’ “Change The Debate” campaign. It encourages young adults to voice their concerns regarding issues concerning the African-American and Latino communities, which are not at the attention of the presidential candidates.
It was not only the Dream Defenders who inspired one another. They impacted other bystanders who did not participate in the protest.
“I was definitely enlightened,” said Kandice Asbury, a freshman at FAMU. “I actually grew angry and enraged about what’s happening to our colored youth.”
Prior to their jail arrival, the 15 students were transported in a van to a holding section at a Catholic high school. The hands of the students were placed behind their backs and forced together with a zip tie. After they were instructed to take off their shoes and socks, shackles were placed around their ankles.
“The shackles were very tight and painful,” Andrade said. “They were heavy and rubbed against each other.”
The students sat calmly in the back of the van and tried to keep track of time but failed. It was during this time that they were disrespected by one of the police officers.
“One of the cops asked, ‘Is the reason that there are more women in here because most black men are locked up anyway?'” Andrade said. “I was honestly hurt and upset by the comment.”
The 15 students were then taken to the Palm Beach County Jail and held for 14 hours.
“I was trying to stay awake,” Andrade said, “but it was so very cold in there.”
Antonio Hairston, a senior public relations student at FAMU and one of the founders of the Dream Defenders, said that he was not against the 15 students going to jail. He indicated that going to jail sent the message that young people go above and beyond to make sure that their voices are heard.
“That’s life,” Hairston said. “There are reasons for our actions and what we fight for.”
As the 15 Dream Defenders served their time in jail, three male activists from the organization, Steven Pargett, Daniel Agnew and Ahmad Abuzniad, slept in a car in front of the jail, awaiting the freedom of the other students. One by one, the 15 students were released during a span of two to three hours.
“It was an intense, powerful moment,” said Pargett, a psychology and public relations alumnus of FAMU. “I was humbled. We just knew we were going to be there when the 15 students were released and supported them through it all.”
Pargett also indicated that the Dream Defenders are here to stay, grow and influence change.
After being freed, all 15 students posed for a picture and acquired a new name as a result of their tenacity and non-violent protest, “The Dream 15.”
“I would do this all over again,” Andrade said. “The only thing I would have done differently was to bring a sweatshirt because I got cold.”
“I mentally prepared myself and, therefore, wasn’t afraid of going to jail,” Andrade said. “I was honestly so calm in the situation. The police on their megaphones and the sounds of sirens and helicopters became background noise.”
The protest was part of the Dream Defenders’ “Change The Debate” campaign. It encourages young adults to voice their concerns regarding issues concerning the African-American and Latino communities, which have been ignored by the presidential candidates.
It was not only the Dream Defenders who inspired one another. They impacted other bystanders who did not participate in the protest.
“I was definitely enlightened,” said Kandice Asbury, a freshman at FAMU. “I actually grew angry and enraged about what’s happening to our colored youth.”
Prior to their arrival in jail, the 15 students were transported in a van to a holding section at a Catholic high school. The hands of the students were placed behind their backs and forced together with a zip tie. After they were instructed to take off their shoes and socks, shackles were placed around their ankles.
“The shackles were very tight and painful,” Andrade said. “They were heavy and rubbed against each other.”
The students sat calmly in the back of the van and tried to keep track of time but failed. It was during this time that they were disrespected by one of the police officers.
“One of the cops asked, ‘Is the reason that there are more women in here because most black men are locked up anyway?'” Andrade said. “I was honestly hurt and upset by the comment.”
The 15 students were then taken to the Palm Beach County Jail and held for 14 hours.
“I was trying to stay awake,” Andrade said, “but it was so very cold in there.”
Antonio Hairston, a senior public relations student at FAMU and one of the founders of the Dream Defenders, said that he was not against the 15 students going to jail. Although he didn’t get arrested, he indicated that going to jail sent the message that young people go above and beyond to make sure that their voices are heard.
“That’s life,” Hairston said. “There are reasons for our actions and what we fight for.”
As the 15 Dream Defenders served their time in jail, three male activists from the organization – Steven Pargett, Daniel Agnew and Ahmad Abuzniad – slept in a car in front of the jail, awaiting the freedom of the other students. One by one, the 15 students were released during a span of two to three hours.
“It was an intense, powerful moment,” said Pargett, a psychology and public relations alumnus of FAMU. “I was humbled. We just knew we were going to be there when the 15 students were released and supported them through it all.”
Pargett also indicated that the Dream Defenders are here to stay, grow and influence change.
After being freed, all 15 students posed for a picture and acquired a new name as a result of their tenacity and non-violent protest – “The Dream 15.”
“I would do this all over again,” Andrade said. “The only thing I would have done differently was to bring a sweatshirt because I got cold.”